Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie
Written and illustrated by Laura Rankin
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books; $15.95
32 pp.; ISBN-13: 978-1599900100

Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews

Ruthie learns there's no such thing as a little white lie in this vibrant and compassionate children's book written and illustrated by Laura Rankin.

Young Ruthie loves all things tiny -- her toys are tiny dinosaurs and bears; she collects miniature seashells, flower blossoms, and books. And so she's absolutely thrilled by the surprise of finding a teeny tiny camera on school playground. Happily snapping away, she's stopped short by Martin, who demands she return his camera. Implusively, she insists that no, the camera is hers. Their bickering continues into the classroom until Mrs. Olsen, their teacher, intervenes, deciding to hold the camera herself until they can all talk about it tomorrow.

Suddenly Ruthie doesn't feel very well. Her realization that she's lied eats away at her throughout the day, until come bedtime, she's practically in tears. Her sensitive parents gently ask what's bothering her and Ruthie tells all, including her fears about what will happen if she tries to fix the situation. Reassured by her parents, Ruthie does tell Mrs. Olsen the truth the next morning at school, surprised both at the outcome and how quickly she feels better.

Laura Rankin's gentle approach to the subject of lying is instructive and accessible to young readers. The big, bright, ink and watercolor illustrations make this a great choice for kids. Rankin's detailed illustrations bring the story to life, her inclusion of poor Martin searching for his new camera in the background of the playground scenes gives greater dimension to the text. Plus, once kids get the idea of the book on the second and third reading, it's fun for them to find Martin in the pictures as he works his way toward Ruthie on the playground, knowing what's coming next. The picture that accompanies Ruthie preparing to approach Mrs. Olsen's desk to tell the truth really conveys her apprehension -- in the text, Rankin refers to how long of a walk it looks to Ruthie, while the perspective of the picture reinforces that.

Ruthie's parents and teacher are quite kind about her lie, stressing the importance of admitting the truth and fixing the situation as best she can in a way that preserves her self-esteem. Ruthie's nerves are well-described, sure to be familiar to kids who may have found themselves in the same situation. Rankin's compassion toward her subject is clear -- Ruthie made a mistake, and it needs to be fixed.

Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie makes a great jumping off point for calmly talking about lying at home, much easier than addressing it when it's too late and you're dealing with a child who either doesn't realize or is too afraid to face up to it. It's easy to think a tiny lie is just that, until the guilt grows to the point where it feels insurmountable, especially to a small child. Rankin also wisely weaves the tools needed to resolve the lie and come clean, giving kids the skills they need to overcome the temptation to lie or to rectify the situation when it's too late.